Q+A: History of 'first ladies'

Editor's Note: Due to their unique social status and personal charm, contemporary first ladies actively engage in public affairs and are gaining increasing worldwide attention.

When did the term "first lady" come into popular usage?

The term "first lady" seems to have originated in the United States. Some sources say that, in 1849, President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison, the wife of former president James Madison, "first lady" in a eulogy at her state funeral. The term became consistently used in the early 20th century.